Here you'll find

 

Boots in a Flowerbed

 

 

 

 

12. Books

Kim runs up the stairs whistling to himself. His day at work is already over although it's still rather early in the afternoon. Two of his co-workers had a date for the evening, they've all been really hard-working and finished today's park lawns in record time. Linell is working until the evening, so she's not expecting him either. Kim has plenty of time, and he's decided to drop by to see Chaim.

"Good afternoon, master Kim!" Dalen steps matter-of-factly aside to let Kim in, and Kim enters quite as matter-of-factly. "Mylord isn't at home, he had a meeting with some of his financial aides. Would you like something to eat?"

"Maybe a couple of sandwiches?" Kim gives Dalen a small hopeful smile over his shoulder. "Do you think he'll be back before - oh, let's say, before six?"

"I should think so," the servant assures him. "Where would you want to sit down? In the small living room?"

"No..." Kim's face brightens as a thought pops into his head. "I think I'll go to the library."

Dalen bows. "I will bring you tea in a moment, master Kim."

Kim strolls in, easily finding his way into the library. He's visited Chaim several times now since that rainy Sunday, and even though he's only explored a small part of the enormous apartment, he's found more than enough things to catch his interest. Such as the library.

He looks around the room in satisfaction. It is large, all of his and Linell's little place would easily fit inside it. The walls are lined from floor to ceiling with bookshelves that are full of books, and some shorter shelves divide the room neatly into smaller sections. It fascinates Kim. He tries to guess how many books there are, then decides that he couldn't care less. Hundreds, anyway. More than enough.

To think that somebody can own a room full of books. Well, if a person has a residence that in fact comprises the entire top floor of a good-sized town house, with dozens of normal-sized apartments below it, then what's a roomful of books? Oh, Kim knows by now that Chaim hasn't chosen this place for himself, or the books for that matter. They originally belonged to his great-grandfather's family. This all has been accumulated over decades. Chaim has just inherited it all.

Kim's gaze skims along row upon row of books. Which of these has Chaim read? He doesn't add 'if any', even in his mind; even though Chaim doesn't like to talk about his life, from the hints he's let slip Kim has guessed that he's received a thorough classical education befitting the heir of a notable family. No doubt he's read quite a few of these, but which ones? Kim can't guess. He would like to, so they could perhaps talk about them together, but after all he's an ordinary 'Demieni boy - he wouldn't know what fine things such an education would involve.

Kim hasn't spent nearly as much time in school as he'd have liked. He would've liked to study more. Such a good thing that he's at least learned to read and write not only 'Demieni but also Dorelioni, not just speak it. He looks at the books and thinks of his own parents. They hadn't been exactly delighted to find out just how much their youngest son had grown to like such useless pursuits as reading books. What would they think of him now, if they could see him in his rich friend's lofty residence, sighing happily, a leather-bound illustrated volume of "Tales from the Mountains" lovingly clutched in his hands? Such idleness...

No doubt Chaim's parents have encouraged him to read, to study the classics. They would've doted on their only son. Kim tries to imagine Chaim as a teenager, remembers what the man has claimed only a week ago - that he'd had waist-long hair when he'd still been in his teens - and adds the blonde mane as an afterthought. Kim nearly giggles at the image, then falls serious. He remembers asking why it had been chopped off, remembers how Chaim looked away with a thin smile. His parents had died in an accident when he was seventeen, leaving him alone with the stupendous fortune. Chaim's voice was throaty when he said it, then he airily switched the topic. Kim let him do it.

Kim shakes his head slowly. Here he is, sitting and trying to piece together his thoughts of his strange friend, when he could take advantage of the free time alone with the books! Chaim will be back in a few hours, and then he'll again have the perfect opportunity to try and figure out the man. Now he's here, the entire library at his disposal - not to mention that Dalen has brought the tea and sandwiches that are now sitting invitingly on a side table and waiting for him.

Kim picks up one sandwich, careful not to stain the book in his lap, and smiles. Smoked beef, how come...

Main Jainah Revnash Dorelion Others Gallery